The suavest man in pop has been extraordinarily busy of late, following up his recent collection of 30's standards with a Roxy Music reunion that was far less embarrassing than fans might have feared. Frantic, however, is not just the best thing yet to emerge from the 56-year-old's Indian summer - it's quite possibly his finest album for a good 15 years. While there's a smattering of original material here - as stately and dignified as we've come to expect - it's the covers that really stand out, with Dylan, Leadbelly and Don Nix all undergoing the crooner's distinctive vocal interpretations. Ferry's supercilious drawl sounds is as seductive as ever, and he even shows that he's down with the kids by getting Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood in to play on 'Goddess of Love', a homage to Marilyn Monroe that's co-written with Dave Stewart.. It may be just a shade less dynamic than his very best work - but as an example of how to grow old with dignity, Frantic really should put McCartney and Jagger to shame.

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